Conservative sound system build - Should I pull the trigger?

It looks really clean. I'm only slightly lost because the contrast is so low. The wiring harness he uses only has two wires, but that black thing has four. Also, is this to replace all OEM wiring and the black piece is to plug directly into the speaker?

 

This only splits the signal to the new front speakers properly using the included crossover. The existing factory wiring plugs in to the OEM tweeter in the dash using a male connecter, 2 wires in and 2 wires out that go to the door. You remove the OEM tweeter (which removes the plug), and plug the OEM male connector that runs into the dash into the black

$14 72-8110 METRA - Subaru/Toyota 2008-Up - Speaker Harness (72-8110)

72-8110 female connector shown in the other post (this replaces the plug lost when removing the OEM tweeter). Connect the new tweeter directly as shown in the other post, and then just connect the door speaker to existing OEM wires (Crutchfield should send adapters for those).

I stand corrected after reviewing the harnesses. The T-harness previously posted appears to go FROM the amp, TO the vehicle harness and speakers. So, you still need something to go FROM the OEM radio speaker output TO the amp.

Metra 71-1765 comes with a connector to do that (the black one, you don't need the other 2 white plugs). Just wire that in to the amp input harness and plug it into the back of your radio after removing the OEM plug. Plug the Red Wolf T-harness that comes out of the amp into the OEM plug that went into the radio.

If you order from Crutchfield, you get the 72-8110 as in the other post, plus the adapters needed in the door. Just find the 71-1765 adapter somewhere, add an amp installation kit (wiring for the amp), some speaker wire, and you should have everything you need.

 

Damn, I really appreciate this! Any reason why Crutchfield didn't recommend the Metra 71-1765? Would the key amp comes with something that will work? As it stands, I have the CK12 (Crutchfield CK12 12-gauge wiring kit for small compact amps and high-power car stereos at Crutchfield), 16-gauge speaker wire, 9-wire speaker cable (Crutchfield CSW9W-20 9-wire speaker cable — 20-foot length at Crutchfield), Metra 72-8109, 72-8104, and 72-8110.

 

The 71-1765 contains connectors that plug in to the back of your OEM HU, which is not what you need for an aftermarket install. They don't appear to carry it since they don't sell OEM radios.

The Key amp won't come with a vehicle-specific plug, so you have to wire something in. That's what you use the Red Wolf for on one side of the amp, and the Metra on the other side. Best Buy appears to carry the 71-1765, and you can find it on eBay, but I couldn't find it on Amazon.

With the stuff you listed, the Red Wolf from the other post, and the 71-1765, you should have all that you need (plus solder/crimps for the wires).

DISCLAIMER: The Metra plug appears that it may have additional wires other than speaker, like for a power antenna, etc. They are likely not needed, just saying it looks like it's a 10-pin connector where you will only use 8. There's a medium blue and dark blue wire in the pics, but I don't think I had to use them on my install.

Not that you need the info, but Metra harnesses are numbered 70-xxxx and 71-xxxx for the same vehicle. If you directly connect all the wires, it basically makes an extension cord with plugs on both ends that connect your HU to the vehicle. I ordered both for my truck and split out/spliced in wires where I needed them, then just plugged it directly in between the OEM HU and the vehicle harness. But my install is a bit different than yours.

Also, follow the instruction on the Key amp setup closely, you'll need access to it during the setup to set gains. So don't button everything up until done done. I strapped mine behind my HU, which shortens the wire runs you need to do but isn't very accessible.

 

Your going to want the Metra 82-4201 tweeter brackets unless you're going to try dremeling out the red wolf ones.
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-pfpTtAJd6LI/p_120824201/Metra-82-4201-Tweeter-Mounting-Brackets.html

The CDT unity 8.0 tweeters in the 4D kit are about 2.2" wide.

 

@MGMDesertTaco when's your audio build starting?? Saw you post in a different thread a couple weeks ago and was expecting to have seen something by now...

 

does the metra drop in and screw holes match? I’d still have drill a hole a hole which is probably easier, but the red wolf looks sturdier? Maybe….

 

Seriously, you could make a couple of metal water heater strap brackets for that tweeter to mount to and you wouldn't know any better... mounting something "sturdy" to a couple of flimsy plastic screw clips isn't going to make it any more or less sturdy

 

I know, I know...Crutchfield's supposed to be delivering the goods this Wednesday. Once that and the deadening arrives the teardown and assembly begins. If I had to pick a timeline I'd say anytime between now and Memorial Day Weekend. I've always excelled in procrastinating.

The Red Wolf mount does look beefier. I'm just not sure there's enough circumference to accommodate the unity's. Not sure about the screw holes matching up on the Metra's. I've even thought about using some scrap plywood and making something. We'll see.

 

@TurboGT

UPS tracking says last scan was 5/16/2022, Hodgkins IL, 8:43am. I guess that's what I get for taking the $10 discount from Crutchfield for a slower shipping rate.

 

will you be documenting your build? No pressure

 

yep

 

Sorry to drag this on, but do you think my HU being different than yours makes a difference regarding Metra 71-1765? I’ve watched a few videos and it seems folks, including OEM audio+ are plugging in three connectors to the back. I realize some of that relates to the sub I’m not installing.

 

My truck takes a different harness, they changed them I think in 2020. But, the concept is the same. There are 3 connectors for the 2020+, but you only need to mess with the one that has the speaker wires. You could make a full harness, but I don't think it's necessary for your install. If you do decide to go that route, you'll need both 70-1765 and 71-1765. The speaker wires going out of the radio should feed into the high-level inputs of the amp, and then the amp outputs feed back into the harness to connect to the vehicle. But that's a LOT of additional splicing when you really only need to mess with the speakers.

 

Are we talking memorial day 2022 or 2023?

Again, you could mount that Unity driver with some water heater straps and not notice a difference in how "sturdy" of a mount you end up using

That's what you get for buying from Crutchfield, not for selecting slower shipping.

 

2022! What's your recommended source for audio components and what brand/ type sound deadener/s do you prefer?

 

I was telling this to @5nahalf last week, but the last time I bought car speakers was 20+ yrs ago when I worked for a local chain as an installer. I got the old Diamond Audio Hex series 3 ways (6-5-tweet) for my fronts, their 6.5 coaxs for the rear, and a 10" "MacDaddy" sub (I shit you not on the name lol). Currently contemplating some CDT stuff, but I gotta keep in mind that my hearing isn't what it used to be and I need to stay more focused on other stuff, like my choice of a HU and/or quieting the cab rather than making things louder. But just in case I need to add volume, I've got my old Xtant 604x amp that will fit nicely in the truck.

Sound deadener stuff- after reading a bunch of threads here, I think when the time comes I'll probably end up getting a couple packs of the Noico stuff, among other products recommended in said threads. Since I'm starting over in a new truck, I'm definitely going to focus more money in this area than on the speakers themselves.

However, I sell the old truck first before the market starts to crash lol

 

@RTweet - I just realized you're in Beaverton? If so, don't go buying any amp wire kits... I got you covered. I've got about 3/4ths of a 1000' spool of 8awg power & ground, you can come take whatever you need. DM me for details, and I can probably help you out with the install too.

 

I dont think I ever showed you my sound deadener video

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bRLUKCsrjYU

 

I think I saw it in your thread... could be wrong. Thought about the spray on route like you did, but I lack the tools that I think I need and probably don't in order to do this. I've done deadening mat enough times that I'm pretty comfortable with that stuff.